Helping the Bonner Clan with Tommy's Surgeries
Donation protected
Tommy Bonner was born three weeks early, and has had a rough start. He was in the NICU for seven days, on a CPAP, oxygen, an NG tube, and under the lights for jaundice. He was in the 1%, not gaining weight. After being released, he was soon back at CHOP due to RSV. He was at CHOP for seven days in and out of the Pediatric ICU unit, on a CPAP, another NG tube, and oxygen. He had to be suctioned into his chest to constantly scrape it clean of mucous. He was also put on a hig- calorie formula to attempt to gain weight. While inpatient for RSV, the doctors noticed a strange bump on Tommy's spine. They decided to ultrasound it, and it came back inconclusive for a tethered spine, and a follow-up MRI was ordered. Then corona happened, and the MRI was pushed off until June 15th. He had his MRI at CHOP, where he had to be fully sedated for the procedure. They discovered he indeed had tethered spine, but that wasn't all. Tommy also was diagnosed with spina bifida, meaning his spine never fused together and he has a hole in it. In that hole, a lipomyelomeningocele grew through it. A lipomyelomeningocele is a fatty tumor that wrapped his nerves around it. He will have surgery to try to correct this and the neurosurgeon will try to reconstruct the nerves and his spinal cord. He will need physical therapy and time at the spina bifida clinic at CHOP. He will be in the hospital for 1-4 weeks to recover, with a bulb that will drain his cerebral spinal fluid. If his body cannot learn how to drain the fluid, he will then have another surgery to put a shunt in to drain the fluid to his belly. He will likely always have neurological damage and have significant issues with his bowels, genitals, legs, feet, and more. We do not know if he will ever be able to walk. He will likely have 3-4 more surgeries because his spine with tether again as he grows. He will need physical therapy and potentially a brace. We do not know what nerves work and which ones will not work, especially after surgery. The medical bills are already piling in for Jess & Dan, especially after the NICU and PICU stay, as well as the MRI. Insurance is only covering 60% of everything, leaving them with over 8,000 dollars so far in medical bills. They have a long road ahead of them with Tommy and bills. We made this fundraiser for them to try and help take the burden off a little bit and focus on making sure Tommy recovers. Jess and Dan also have two other kids, one who is going to Kindergarten in the fall, and another who starts pre-school in the fall. Jess is a student in graduate school and Dan works so hard, but on one income, they are falling short trying to pay the medical bills and the rest of their expenses. Let's try and help them the best we can, to give them all types of support possible! Jess has been posting updates regarding Tommy to her Facebook page if you have any questions regarding his diagnosis or just want to follow along with his progress. Tommy is a FIGHTER and he is strong. He is the happiest baby, and we know he can get through this. His normal might not look like our "normal" but he is a superhero!
Thank you in advance!
Fundraising team: Team Tommy Pickles! (3)
Kim Kaminsky
Organizer
Bensalem Township, PA
Jessica Bonner
Beneficiary
lisa millar
Team member
Wendy Jaudas
Team member